BACUP skipper Neal Wilkinson has warned his side not to take the title for granted as the Transco Lancashire League champions limp to the season's finale.

Once again the Sunday league programme was interrupted by rain with Bacup one of the worst-hit as their game against Rawtenstall was called off.

After hitting an impressive total of 221 - one they would have been confident of winning the game with - the heavens opened and a 'monsoon' hit Lanehead.

The pitch was turned into a lake and the game was called off almost immediately.

"It was a good total but that's the way it goes," said Wilkinson. "It lashed it down at tea so the game was rightly called off."

With Bacup xx points clear the title still looks destined to be retained for the second successive season - it will be Bacup's third consecutive league title - but Wilkinson said his side hadn't relaxed yet.

"It shouldn't matter but we still have a win or two to get," he said.

"We'll go to our next game next week still needing points to win the title. We'll win it when we win it and not before."

Peter Thompson had hit 78 not out and he was ably assisted by Dominic Ayres on 24, the professional Shaun Young - one of few original professionals left - who managed a knock of 41 and Terry Lord who hit 53.

Keith Roscoe was Rawtenstall's biggest threat with the ball, taking three wickets for the loss of 76 runs. The professional Andrew Hall finished with figures of 70-2.

COLNE took maximum points from their visit to LOWERHOUSE in a game which was reduced by less than two overs due to rain.

Jeff Ellis hit two sixes and seven fours in his 60 and Gary Laycock managed two sixes and three fours in his 47.

Brilliant catches, one from Jonny Russell and one from Jez Hope, were responsible for two Colne wickets but it wasn't enough.

Joseph Beneduce took three wickets and Jez Hope two but the Colne attack was too strong and they managed 241.

Lowerhouse professional Jaques Rudolph went for 38 and the only other batsman who looked capable of hitting a big total, Nick Hope, top-edged a ball into his eye and had to retire injured on 21.

Andy Roberts took five wickets, including two with his last two balls in his last over.

NELSON professional Joe Scuderi produced the goods yet again to lead his side to a thrilling seven-wicket win over Burnley.

The prolific Scuderi hit an unbeaten 74 as Nelson reached their rain-reduced target of 193 with just one ball to spare.

Burnley professional Pierre Joubert had earlier hit his third century of the summer but couldn't prevent the home side getting the nine they needed off the 39th and final over.

Nelson got their target down to four off the last two balls and Scuderi held his nerve to work Joubert through mid-wicket to register his sixth boundary.

Scuderi's half-century had come off 56 balls as he shared in a decisive second-wicket stand of 112 with Paul Garraghty.

The opener made 58 with two boundaries with his 50 coming off 106 deliveries.

Joubert, who has just one more match to play before returning to South Africa, had continued his superb run of form as he took his run of

scores in the last five games to 102, 98, 13, 96 and 105.

The in-form paid-man faced 134 balls and hit eight fours and his partnership of 125 in 29 overs with skipper Andy McLeod looked to have put Burnley in a strong position when the rain came at tea.

McLeod faced 74 balls for his half-century and hit three fours and a six.

EAST LANCS suffered an eight wicket defeat at Rishton.

The East Lancs professional Con de Lange reached 39 not out but a slow pace meant his side reached only 99 in 42 overs.

The Rishton sub-pro Nawaz took four wickets.

Russell Whalley scored 41 for the home side in their reply and Nawaz contributed with 27 not out as Rishton reached their target with the loss of just two wickets.